James t



J. T. S RGENT;

(No Model.)-

WASHBOARD. I f mops-01,444. Patented July 11, 1893* H E F I m MM UNITED STATES PATENT i FFICE.

JAMES T. SARGENT, OF' CLEVELAND, CHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WASHBOARD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,444, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed June 30, 1892. Serial No. 438,620. (No model.)

To. all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Protectors for Washboards, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described. herein relates to to certain improvements in pivoted resilient protectors for washboards, and has for its object an improved construction whereby the same spring or springs are operative to support the protector in ayielding manner in its elevated or operative position and also to hold the protector in a closed or folded position.

In general terms the invention consists in the construction and combination, substantially as hereinafter more fully described and :o claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a washboard having my improvements applied thereto, portions of the side-bars being broken away. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the board shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4. are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing certain modifications in the arrangement of the spring and its co-opcrating toe. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional detail views showing modified forms of the toe. Figs.7 and 8 are detail views showing modifications in the manner of pivoting the protector to the board.

In the practice of my. invention, the washboard is constructed in the usual or any suitable manner. In the side bars 1 are formed sockets 2 for the reception of the journals 3 formed in the protector 4., as shown in Fig. 1. The inner edge of the protector is provided with a toe 5, which is constructed with two flat or approximately fiat faces a and b, arranged at an angle to each other corresponding approximately to the angle formed by planes passing through the protector in its operative or open and closed or folded positions. A flat spring 6 is secured to the head-piece 7 of the washboard in such manner as to bear at all times against one or the other of thefiat facesof the toe 5, and thereby hold the protector either in a raised or closed position dependent upon which face of the toe is in contact with the spring. As the protector is moved from either of its positions the spring is placed under an increased tension by the pressure of the apex 5 0 of the toe thereon. This tension gradually increases as the protector is shifted, reaching its maximum when a line passing through the center of movement of the protector and the apex of the toe is at right angles or approxi- 6o mately so with the spring 6. When in this position the protector is in equilibrium, but

if it be moved slightly either up or down, so that the spring will bear slightly on either side of the apex, the protector will be shifted to and held in a closed or open position dependent uponthe side of the apex c the spring bears.

When applying my improvement to double faced washboards, the spring may be made U- shaped, as shown in Fig. 2, the toes on the protectors bearing upon the two legs of the spring.

As shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the toe is formed of a piece of metal having an opening therein for the reception of one of the journals 3 of the board and provided with prongs 8 adapted to fit on opposite sides of the protector and prevent the rotation of the toe independent of the protector. If desired the rear edge of the board may be so shaped as to form a toe for engagement with the spring-in the manner described, as shown in Fig. 5, and if preferred the apex e of the toe at 5 shown in Fig. 6 may be formed by a strip of metal 13, which also forms one of the faces of the toe. 8 As shown in Figs. 3 and 4. the toes 5 maybe secured to the under side of the head-piece 7 and the springs 6 attached to the protectors.

The use of pins as journals for the protectors has been heretofore considered objection- 9o able'on account of the liability of splitting the protector at its rear edges, but by constructing the toes in the manner shownin Figs. 1,

2, 7 and 8, they will serve as ferrules, the journal pins 9 being driven into the portion of the wood entering the hole in the toes, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. When journal pins are used,

a toe will be secured to each end of the protector, and in suchcase two springs 6 may be employed, but as one spring is generally suffi- I00 oient for shifting and holding the protector in position, a simple metal sleeve or ferrule may be employed at one end of the board.

No specific claim is made herein to the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, as such construction will be included in an application to be filed in due time.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In combination with a pivoted washboard protector, fixed pivotal bearings for the protector, a yielding resilient spring, and an operating toe or projection adapted to engage the spring and be acted on with greatest effect while the protector is at or near either or both the limits of its normal movement, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with two pivotal washboard protectors, fixed bearings for the protector, a yielding resilient spring, common to both protectors and adapted to operate on ing the portion of the wood inclosed by the toe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. SARGENT. Witnesses:

J OHN R. EDWARDS, PETER J. J OREKEN. 

